Russell County has always had a strong heritage in vegetable production, whether it be commercial or home garden production. This year, in conjunction with Russell County Health Department, and an community volunteer, we were able to start another community garden in Russell County.  What started as a single garden, more than 10 years ago has flourished into 3 community gardens in the county.  With one being located at the extension office, one at a local volunteers home, and another at Russell Springs First Baptist Church, The new community garden provides low income families, minorities and Senior Citizens with the opportunity to have access to fresh fruits and vegetables.   As well as be a partner in helping members of the community secure more fresh and local foods.  The main garden at the Extension office is used, in part, to provide citizens of the community a place to have a garden.  With many senior citizens and minorities living in apartments or other housing without land for a garden, our garden area provides them with a free place to grow their own food.  The office garden, this year has also become a way to donate fresh fruit and vegetables back to the community.  The Extension office garden as well as the community volunteer garden, will now donate fresh produce to the local food pantry and deliver produce to the local housing districts as available.

The church garden provides its participants with fresh produce in exchange for their work in the garden, and all of the extra produce is donated as well.  This year, in Russell County community gardens account for approximately 1/2 acre of locally grown produce that will be donated back to the community.  The community gardens allow for extension to also provide participants and citizens with healthy recipes for the local produce they receive by putting together packets of SNAP-Ed materials.